Portfolio

The title of Sam Simmons’ newest show, Radical Women of Latin American Art 1960-1985, is just as subversive as the comedian himself. Simmons does mention the art exhibition that he visited with his wife in Los Angeles, but it’s only a fraction of what the show is actually about....

Well known as a writer and regular performer on the small screen, not all of Celia Pacquola’s fans are aware that her roots lie firmly in standup. Indeed, she’s a little worried that her new show, All Talk, may upset people’s expectations of “that nice girl from the ABC talking about Tasmania and infrastructure”....

A lot has changed since the rulers of the Roman Empire decided that gladiator fights to the death were the best way to distract the public from the chaos of politics. A veteran of the comedy circuit, Stephen K Amos is acutely aware of the constantly evolving political landscape. Bread and Circuses is his modern-day entertainment equivalent of Roman blood sports....

In June 2017, comedian Wil Anderson was arrested as his plane touched down in the regional city of Wagga Wagga. He was alleged to have ‘behaved disruptively’ during the flight, prompting the Qantas crew to notify the police, although it was unclear what he had done to provoke such a reaction. Wilegal, running from 28 March to 22 April at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF), is the untold story of exactly what happened on that infamous flight....

The Waterside Hotel, an imposing three storey building on the corner of King and Flinders Streets, has just undergone renovation, with the aim of redirecting some of the foot traffic from the “Paris end” of town by offering a drinking and dining experience not usually associated with the western side of the CBD....

A neon pink sign beckons from the end of a Melbourne city laneway. The building it adorns looks small and unassuming, and as I start to imagine the layout inside, words like intimate and cosy spring to mind.
I couldn’t be more wrong. Souk is sprawling and cavernous, its seemingly boundless interior and minimal decor evoking the wide open spaces of the desert....

Long evening, evenings where the last of the sun’s rays are still visible at 9pm, are my favourite thing about summer. Evenings that are made for alfresco dining, open air dancing and moonlight cinemas. The Coburg Velodrome Food Truck Festival satisfies all these needs and more, with an array of activities to keep all members of the family entertained....

Mission Australia are urging the government to get serious about ‘Closing the Gap’ after key findings in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Report 2016 demonstrate that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people face significant disadvantages compared to non-indigenous young people....

Channel Seven will premiere its new drama, The Secret Daughter, tonight and a Fitzroy local will have a starring role.
The show centres on Billie Carter, a part-time country pub singer played by Jessica Mauboy, whose life changes forever after a chance meeting with wealthy city hotelier Jack Norton, performed by acting legend Colin Friels....

'Castles‘ is one of those performances that defies reviews. A cross-artform conundrum that incorporates song, dance, theatre and visual art, ‘Castles’ refuses to fit into any one category. Even its content is difficult to define. Trying to describe what this show is actually about is almost impossible. Its power lies in the overall experience....

I must confess, I am a little bit of a wine snob. I’m by no means an expert though, and I love any opportunity to develop my knowledge and treat my palate to something new. Naturally, I was very excited for Pilgrim Bar’s “Talk and Taste” event with Andrew Marks, producer of Gembrook Hill & The Wanderer wines....

Two organisations in Melbourne’s north, Outer Urban Projects and River Nile Learning Centre, have recently been awarded a Westpac Foundation Community Grant worth up to $10,000 for their outstanding efforts in improving the lives of Australia’s most disadvantaged....

Melbourne proudly lays claim to the title of culture capital of Australia and when you look at the city’s calendar of events, it’s easy to understand why. Whether it’s film, music, arts or design, there’s always a festival going on. As if we weren’t already struggling to fit it all in, there’s now another to add to the diary, with the inaugural Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (9-11 July) delivering a diverse and challenging program of independent films from at home and around the globe....

According to the 2010 report Writing Themselves In 3, 61% of young people who identify as same sex attracted or gender questioning have experienced verbal abuse on account of their sexuality. The report is the third in a series of national studies conducted by La Trobe University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, examining the sexual health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ Australians between the ages of 14 and 21....